With Paris streets often clogged by traffic, travelling underground is often much quicker but only 9% of metro stations can be accessed without walking up and down steps. Wheelchair users, however, would need to travel by bus as both metro stations have stairs and no lifts, a test ride carried out by Maille, who was accompanied by a Reuters journalist, showed. In Berlin, 83% of underground stations are accessible for wheelchair users, according to the operator. The company also plans to deploy 250 specially refitted buses that can transport more wheelchair users, he added. But wheelchair activist Maille said this won't help many visitors with their trips between hotels and venues.

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Persons: Franck Maille, Stephanie Lecocq, Alexander III, la, Maille, Gregoire de Lasteyrie, Yiming Woo, Tassilo Hummel, Ingrid Melander, Ken Ferris Organizations: APF, Madeleine, REUTERS, Rights, la Chapelle, Wheelchair, Reuters, Transport, Thomson Locations: APF France, Paris, France, London, Berlin